Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Reeves County, Trans-Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

TOP STORIES

January 30, 1998

Local SWAT team aids in Van Horn drug raids

By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 30, 1998 - Members of the local SWAT team,
the Pecos Police Department and the Reeves County Sheriff's
Department joined with the Permian Basin Drug Task Force in
a sweeping drug raid yesterday to execute more than 50
drug-related warrants.

"We went over to Van Horn with our SWAT team and helped them
make some narcotics arrests," Reeves County Sheriff Arnulfo
Gomez said.

Gomez said that he wasn't sure how many men had been
arrested in the raid, but there were about 16 arrested by
the time he left yesterday. The exact number is not yet
available from the Culberson County Sheriff's Office. One
man arrested during the raid has been identified as Victor
Manuel Franco, 30, of Van Horn.

A spokesperson at the drug task force headquarters said that
all information on the raid is not in yet and that a press
release will be issued today once all the information has
been compiled.

Student with weapon faces felony charge

PECOS, January 30, 1998 - A Crockett Middle School student
arrested at the school last week for possession of a weapon
will be charged with a third-degree felony, according to
Reeves County Juvenile Probation Officer Alberto Alvarez.

Alvarez said that the case, involving a 14-year-old male
arrested Jan. 23 , will be submitted to the county attorney,
and if found guilty, the boy faces serious consequences. The
boy was in possession of metal knuckles.

An unidentified teacher at the school discovered that the
student had the weapon at school. School officials had
possession of the weapon by the time police arrived.

The youth will be facing up to one year of intensive
supervision, that Alvarez said is stricter than regular
probation.

In addition, the youth could be expelled from school and
placed in the alternative education program, "and probably
will be," said Alvarez.

The juvenile "could be removed from his home and placed
elsewhere, including a state institution, up until he is 18
years of age," Alvarez added.

The boy's punishment will be determined after law
enforcement officials do a background study and a home check
into the circumstances of the boy's life. Factors such as a
prior criminal history will play a part in that decision.

"He did demonstrate concern about his situation. He was
emotional," said Alvarez.

According to Alvarez, the juvenile code is very specific,
and knuckles, the weapon the boy was caught with, are
prohibited on the grounds of an educational institution.

Student with weapon faces felony charge

PECOS, January 30, 1998 - A Crockett Middle School student
arrested at the school last week for possession of a weapon
will be charged with a third-degree felony, according to
Reeves County Juvenile Probation Officer Alberto Alvarez.

Alvarez said that the case, involving a 14-year-old male
arrested Jan. 23 , will be submitted to the county attorney,
and if found guilty, the boy faces serious consequences. The
boy was in possession of metal knuckles.

An unidentified teacher at the school discovered that the
student had the weapon at school. School officials had
possession of the weapon by the time police arrived.

The youth will be facing up to one year of intensive
supervision, that Alvarez said is stricter than regular
probation.

In addition, the youth could be expelled from school and
placed in the alternative education program, "and probably
will be," said Alvarez.

The juvenile "could be removed from his home and placed
elsewhere, including a state institution, up until he is 18
years of age," Alvarez added.

The boy's punishment will be determined after law
enforcement officials do a background study and a home check
into the circumstances of the boy's life. Factors such as a
prior criminal history will play a part in that decision.

"He did demonstrate concern about his situation. He was
emotional," said Alvarez.

According to Alvarez, the juvenile code is very specific,
and knuckles, the weapon the boy was caught with, are
prohibited on the grounds of an educational institution.

New administrator joins county hospital

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 30, 1998 - One West Texas native has brought
his knowledge and experience back to his roots.

"I'm very happy to be back here in West Texas," said Richard
Mathis, the new Chief Financial Officer for Reeves County
Hospital.

Mathis was born in Pecos and raised in Van Horn. He attended
Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he majored in
accounting and finances.

"I have worked with hospitals and skilled nursing
facilities, as well as, other facilities for over 10 years
as both as auditor and financial officer," said Mathis.

Mathis believes that his background will benefit him as CFO
at the Pecos hospital. His main goal is to see more work
done in outpatient/outreach.

"Plus the goals that the RCH board has set out, those will
be the first ones addressed," he said.

Another goal, Mathis outlined, is to maintain the solid
financial position the hospital currently enjoys.

"I have researched the finances of this hospital dating back
to 1994 and have seen a marked improvement," Mathis said.
"It appears the hospital is headed in the right direction
which is due in part to the organizational efforts of the
staff," he said.

Mathis said he was attracted to Pecos because of the
individuals that are working here. "I was really impressed
with the overall strives they have made," he said.

Mathis came highly recommended by former RCH administrator,
Terry Andris. "I've known Terry for about 10 years, and in
that time I have had several opportunities to work with him
which provided me an insight into hospital operations and
structure," he said.

Mathis' other attractions to the area,
of course, were his roots. "I also love the scenery around
here," he said.

"I'm familiar with this area and know it has a lot to
offer," said Mathis. "That was one of the main things that
my decision was based on, getting closer to my roots."

Mathis' mother grew up in Pecos and agreed that Mathis is
very happy to be here and knows that Pecos has many
opportunities and assets.

"The staff has been very supportive and receptive," Mathis
said. "I look forward to working with them and helping them
in any way possible," he said.

In his spare time, Mathis plans to spend quality time with
his family, his wife, Karla, and his two-year-old daughter,
Kinzie. There will be an addition to the family in the
spring, with the arrival of their new child.

"I also plan to spend time exploring the area again, like
Big Bend and Balmorhea," said Mathis.
Growing up in Van Horn Mathis became very familiar with the
surrounding area and plans to introduce his family to its
beauty.

Commissioners attend annual conference

PECOS, January 30, 1998 - Three Reeves County Commissioners
attended the 40th annual County Judges' and Commissioners'
Continuing Education Conference and Exposition Jan. 20-22 at
the College Station Hilton Conference Center.

WEATHER

PECOS, January 30, 1998 - High Thursday, 67, low this
morning, 29. It's going to seem more like spring than winter
across Texas this weekend. Scattered showers and some
thunderstorms are expected tonight and Friday across the
entire state. Showers and thunderstorms will dampen most
areas of West Texas tonight. The rain will be ending early
Saturday in West Texas where skies will be clearing later in
the day. Lows tonight will be in the 30s and 40s, highs
Saturday will be in the 60s and 70s.